Mask Structure Without an Inner Waterproof Ring

ABSTRACT

A mask structure that has one lens assembly and a first injection molded component, while not having an inner waterproof ring, is provided. The first injection molded component is disposed on the periphery of the lens assembly, and has a skirt portion with an inner surface that is flat without the need of providing an inner waterproof ring.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 103220431 filed on Nov. 18, 2014 and US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/987,559 filed on May 2, 2014. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention provides mask structure. In particular, the present invention provides a mask structure without an inner waterproof ring.

2. Descriptions of the Related Art

During underwater activities, a person wears a special mask structure over his/her face to protect the eyes from irritation by the water and discomfort from the water pressure while comfortably observing the surrounding environment clearly.

Therefore, to effectively prevent entry of the water into the mask structure, a mask structure 100 of the prior art, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, not only comprises a lens assembly 110 that allows the eyes of a user to observe the surrounding environment for purpose of broadening the field of view, but is also provided with a waterproof ring 122 (as shown in FIG. 3) on the inner surface of a skirt portion 120 that is in contact with the face of the user, thereby, achieving the waterproof effect.

However, for such a mask structure with a waterproof ring 122 disposed on the skirt portion 120 or other kinds of mask structures, the shape of the mask itself is irregular and complex, so the mold cost is relatively high. The manufacturing process requires manual assembly operations, so labor time and mold costs are required. This is unfavorable for rapid production on a production line and for cost control.

Accordingly, it is important to provide a mask structure capable of improving the manufacturing efficiency on the production line, while allowing for a good waterproof effect and wearing comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a mask structure which can remarkably improve the production efficiency and meanwhile allow for a good waterproof effect and wearing comfort by eliminating the need of an inner waterproof ring.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, a mask structure without an inner waterproof ring provided by the present invention comprises at least one lens assembly and a first injection molded component. The first injection molded component is disposed on the periphery of the lens assembly by injection molding. The first injection molded component has a skirt portion. The inner surface of the skirt portion of the first injection molded component is a flat surface, which completely eliminates the need of the inner waterproof ring.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention further comprises two buckling members that are fixed with the lens assembly.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the two buckling members of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention are formed integrally with an outer edge of the lens assembly.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention further has a strap which is provided to connect the two buckling members.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the lens assembly of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is a single lens assembly.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the lens assembly of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention has two lens assemblies.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the first injection molded component of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is made of a material selected from a group consisting of silicone, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and combinations thereof.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the lens assembly of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is formed by a second injection molded component.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the second injection molded component of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is made of a material selected from a group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) and combinations thereof.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention further comprises a frame for receiving the first injection molded component therein.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the lens assembly of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is delivered to a mask mold by an automated mechanical arm, and then the first injection molded component is formed on the periphery of the lens assembly by injection molding.

To achieve the aforesaid objective, the at least one lens assembly of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is delivered to a mask mold in a manual transferring mode, and then the first injection molded component is formed on the periphery of the lens assembly through injection molding.

The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a mask of the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mask of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the mask of the prior art;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a mask structure without an inner waterproof ring according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged schematic view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a mask structure without an inner waterproof ring according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the mask structure without an inner waterproof ring observed from another viewing angle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With references to FIGS. 4 to 6, a mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention comprises at least one lens assembly 212 and a first injection molded component 220. The first injection molded component 220 is disposed on the periphery of the lens assembly 212 by injection molding, and the first injection molded component 220 has a skirt portion 222.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, an inner surface of the skirt portion 222 of the first injection molded component 220 is preferred to be a flat surface 224 without the inner waterproof ring.

In detail, the lens assembly 212 has two lens assemblies 212 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention may further comprise two buckling members 214 that are formed integrally with the outer edge of the two lens assemblies 212.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring may further comprise a frame 240 for receiving the lens assembly 212 therein. Thereby, the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention can have an increased overall rigidity and preferable visual texture.

As shown in FIG. 11, the inner surface of the skirt portion 222 of the first injection molded component 220 is also a flat surface 224 without the inner waterproof ring.

To allow the user to wear the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention securely on the face, the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring may further have a strap 230. The two ends of the strap 230 are adapted to connect the two buckling members 214 respectively to facilitate the adjustment of the tightness of the mask structure 200 by the user.

Thus, due to the arrangement of the aforesaid lens assembly 212 and first injection molded component 220, as well as the fact that the skirt portion 222 of the first injection molded component 220 is a special structure with the flat surface 224, the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention can be produced through an in-line automated manufacturing process.

Hereby, the automated manufacturing process of the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is described as follows.

If the lens assembly 212 of the present invention is formed by a second injection molded component 210, then firstly the second injection molded component 210 is injection molded to form the lens assembly 212. Then, the lens assembly 212 is delivered to a mask mold by an automated mechanical arm, and next, the first injection molded component 220 is formed on the lens assembly 212 also through injection molding in the mask mold to produce the mask portion. Thereby, the waterproof ring additionally required in the prior art is omitted so that the production efficiency is improved without compromising the waterproofing performance and the wearing comfort.

Alternatively, if the aforesaid lens assembly 212 is already a finished glass lens, then the finished glass lens is directly put on a carrier (i.e., the finished glass lens may be delivered to a mask mold by a mechanical arm), and then the first injection molded component 220 is directly over-molded onto the finished glass lens to form the mask portion, thus, obtaining the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention. In other words, even if the lens assembly 212 is a finished glass lens, the first injection molded component 220 can be over-molded onto the finished glass lens by using the mechanical arm to deliver the finished glass lens disposed on the aforesaid carrier, and this can also help to improve the production efficiency.

Furthermore, even if the lens assembly 212 is delivered into the mask mold in a manual transferring mode and then the first injection molded component 220 is formed on the periphery of the lens assembly through injection molding, the production efficiency and the product quality can also be remarkably improved because the waterproof ring additionally required in the prior art can also be omitted.

In addition to being formed integrally with an outer edge of the two lens assemblies 212, the aforesaid two buckling members 214 may also be joined to the first injection molded component 220 by a snap-fit structure or other kinds of fixing members. These features are not limited to the present invention and will not be detailed in the attached drawings.

The first injection molded component 220 of the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is preferably made of a material selected from a group consisting of silicone, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and combinations thereof. When the lens assembly 212 is formed by a second injection molded component 210, the second injection molded component 210 may be made of a material selected from a group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) and combinations thereof.

Furthermore, as will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the lens assembly 212 of the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention may also comprise only a single lens assembly 212 instead of comprising two lens assemblies 212 as described above.

According to the above descriptions, because the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention is formed only by the lens assembly 212 and first injection molded component 220, and the skirt portion 222 of the first injection molded component 220 has a flat surface 224 without the inner waterproof ring, an in-line manufacturing process can be used to form the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention by delivering the lens assembly 212 formed by a glass lens into the mask mold via an automated mechanical arm, and then directly over-molding the first injection molded component 220 onto the finished glass lens. On the other hand, when the lens assembly 212 is formed by the second injection molded component 210, the mask structure 200 may also be produced and manufactured by delivering the lens assembly 212 formed by the second injection molded component 210 into the mask mold via an automated mechanical arm, and then injection molding the first injection molded component 220 onto the second injection molded component 210, thereby, increasing the production speed and improving the manufacturing efficiency of the mask structure 200 without an inner waterproof ring of the present invention.

The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mask structure without an inner waterproof ring, comprising: at least one lens assembly; and a first injection molded component, being disposed on a periphery of the at least one lens assembly by injection molding, and the first injection molded component has a skirt portion; wherein an inner surface of the skirt portion is a flat surface without the inner waterproof ring.
 2. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two buckling members being fixed with the at least one lens assembly.
 3. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two buckling members are formed integrally with an outer edge of the at least one lens assembly.
 4. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 2, further having a strap which is provided to connect the two buckling members.
 5. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one lens assembly is a single lens assembly.
 6. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one lens assembly is two lens assemblies.
 7. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first injection molded component is made of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and combinations thereof.
 8. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one lens assembly is formed by a second injection molded component.
 9. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second injection molded component is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) and combinations thereof.
 10. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a frame for receiving the at least one lens assembly therein.
 11. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one lens assembly is delivered to a mask mold by an automated mechanical arm, and then the first injection molded component is formed on the periphery of the at least one lens assembly by injection molding.
 12. The mask structure without an inner waterproof ring as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one lens assembly is delivered to a mask mold in a manual transferring mode, and then the first injection molded component is formed on the periphery of the at least one lens assembly through injection molding. 